In any case, he was still a mountain ghost and a part-time apprentice-level alchemist. Even if he specialized in metals, he still had some understanding of other common materials.
After discovering that Huai Shi was not the kind of newbie who knew nothing, the middle-aged man's expression suddenly relaxed a little.
"Yes."
He directly took a big gulp from the bottle, wiped his mouth, and sighed unhappily. "They grow everywhere. It's especially annoying this year. There are so many … so damn many."
Invasive species.
Huai Shi could understand. Although this thing was useful, if it wasn't handled properly, it could grow everywhere and even squeeze out the living space of other plants.
"Is there no native species that can be targeted?" he asked.
"The bastards from the Ministry of Ecology introduced new species and eliminated more than half of the native woodlice. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so annoying this year."
At this point, the middle-aged man awkwardly patted his head and stretched out his hand to Huai Shi. "How should I address you?"
"Huai Shi."
Huai Shi shook hands with him and heard his name. "Ali, just call me Ali. I'm sorry to treat you as an ignorant and incompetent guy."
"It's okay."
Huai Shi could understand that the other party regarded him as a guy who relied on his face to make a living. He did not care, but asked directly, "I heard you have a job here."
"Yes." Ali nodded and pointed to the dragon mistletoe. "To deal with this."
"You mean, to pinch off the dragon mistletoe here?"
"You can't pinch it." Ali shook his head. "Those damn things are growing crazy now. Even if all the Ascendants of the Forestry Association are mobilized, they can't be dealt with. We can only find a way to cultivate its natural enemy first."
As he said, he took out his glasses from his pocket, put them on, and took out a book. He opened it and looked at the pile of to-do items on it and asked, "What kind of job do you want?"
"Odd jobs will do," Huai Shi said. "It's best if it's effortless. Is there such a job?"
"There is … but it won't make much money."
"In fact, it's just a side job." Huai Shi shrugged. "I plan to go from Jakarta to Madura. It's best if you can help on the way."
Ali fell silent.
Soon, he raised his head to look outside the wooden house and shouted, "Tao Fei Ke, Tao Fei Ke! Bring me a jar of the new Baihe seeds! "
His voice was so loud that a layer of dust fell from the beam.
Soon, a young man came in with an aluminum box the size of a tea can and placed it in front of Huai Shi.
When he opened it, he saw that it was filled with rice-sized seeds that looked like grass seeds.
"What is this?"
Huai Shi did not recognize him.
"Preparations for the follow-up work." Ali explained, "Before a new species of woodlouse is bred, we need to delay the effects of the dragon mistletoe. It's what the Druids use to fertilize the soil. It grows tall and dies quickly, but it's hard to live. "
As he spoke, he looked at Huai Shi and did not say anything else.
It was as if he was examining his capabilities.
Can you plant it?
Huai Shi touched his pocket and took out a pair of tweezers from his tool bag. He picked one and placed it in his palm to observe it carefully. He had never seen this thing before, so he could not guarantee it.
But to his surprise, when he rubbed his fingers together and stained them with some of Huai Shi's sweat, the seed sprouted.
He did not even use the ability of the Mountain Ghost.
He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "It's not that hard to live."
"..."
After a brief silence, Ali finally put away the astonishment in his eyes and carefully looked at Huai Shi. After a long time, he nodded.
"Well, since Tilar introduced you, then with his guarantee, you don't have to sign the contract." Ali nodded and asked, "When can we start work?"
"Anytime."
Huai Shi replied. He reached out and took out his ID from his trouser pocket. "Also, there's no need to trouble Mr. Tilar to guarantee. I have something that can prove my identity and credibility."
It was an exquisite ID with a black cover. It was engraved with the coat of arms of the Present Realm surrounded by thorns.
After opening it, there was a frontal photo of Huai Shi and the Astronomy Association's Peace Dove Seal. It proved his identity as a registered military officer and also gave him the right to carry weapons and walk freely between the Present Realm, the border, and Hell.
Ali gasped and froze on the spot. Tilar was not much better. His hand almost shook out the wine in the cup.
The two of them looked at each other in disbelief.
'How did you get such a big shot to come over and help you? ‘
"I didn't know that the confused little brother I met by chance was from the Astronomy Association! ‘
Their expressions suddenly became very interesting.
Fortunately, they did not have any prejudice or conflict against Huai Shi, a certified executioner. After all, in Indonesia, there were no major genealogies. The only thing that could ensure the basic human rights and life of the Ascendants was the rules set by the Astronomy Association.
This was equivalent to a warm-hearted old man introducing a young man to do odd jobs at his old acquaintance's place, but he did not expect that the young man who came to carry bricks was a passing criminal police captain …
Looking at their hesitant and hesitant looks, Huai Shi held back his laughter. The thought of pretending to be a foreigner in the dark corner of his heart was satisfied.
"Ahem, since he's from the Astronomy Association, there's naturally no need to worry."
After a long time, Ali answered awkwardly and pushed the box over. "You just have to find a place to plant these along the way. I can pay you in advance. How much do you want? "
"If it's just throwing a few seeds along the way, it won't take much effort —"
Huai Shi held the box and pondered for a moment before saying, "If you really want to pay me, then answer a question of mine."
He looked at Ali in front of him and asked seriously,
"In your opinion, what does it mean to be an Ascendant?"
"…"
Ali looked back at Tilar and asked in a low voice, "Where did you find this poet?"
"Young people are always full of curiosity about the world." Tilar shrugged. "He needs the insights of some seniors. At least, I hope you won't be stingy with your words."
Ali shrugged and shook his head as if he had lost to him. "It doesn't mean anything."
Huai Shi didn't say anything else.
He just looked at him with a calm and indifferent expression and waited patiently.
Until he couldn't keep his face straight anymore. He suppressed his irritation and took a deep breath.
"Well, although I don't know what your Astronomy Association is thinking, in my opinion, being an Ascendant means nothing to me. It's just a job. Do you understand?"
He pointed to the mess in the office. "I went from being a drunken forest keeper to running a sawmill. I have to take care of my old brothers who lost their jobs and find ways to maintain the ecological balance in the forest … It's too troublesome, young man. It's too troublesome."
"Didn't you make any money?" Huai Shi asked.
"So what if I did?"
Ali was amused and pointed outside the house. "What's the use of money in this wilderness? I use public funds to call a woman to come to my door once a week and double the tip. But what about more? This is the mountain, young man. There's nothing that doesn't need money more than a lumberjack. "
"…" Huai Shi was stunned for a long time. "Hasn't your life changed at all?"
"Yes, it has changed a lot. But when it really needs to change, what can it change?"
In front of Huai Shi, Ali turned his arm into a thick branch. Under the thick bark, there was amazing power. What was more frightening was that the whole sawmill and the whole forest were faintly resonating with him.
This was his home ground.
"This is power. It's amazing. But what's the use of it?"
Ali sneered and asked, "Can it make my ex-wife change her mind after I broke her heart? Can it make my two children believe that their father really loves them from the bottom of his heart?
My eldest son and youngest daughter don't even want to have a meal with me. In their eyes, I will always be the father who brought fear and pain to them after drinking, a trouble that only brings shame …
Yes, I know. I deserve it. Young man, they hate me and don't even want to invite me to their wedding.
This is not something that can be changed by power and miracle. Unless I go back in time and beat up that bastard named Ali twenty years ago and told that idiot to cherish everything he had. But even if I go back in time, can I face them?
I screwed up once, twice, and all my chances of turning things around. When I began to regret it, it was already too late. "
Ali's fingers stretched out and rolled up the liquor on the table. He raised his head and drank it all. Then, he threw the bottle out of the window in annoyance and laid it on the chair.
Staring at the picture frame on the table, his former family, he became tired and helpless. He laughed self-deprecatingly. "Life is not something that can be changed by power, is it?"
Huai Shi was speechless.
"This is the answer you want, Mr. Huai Shi. I have made a fool of myself in front of a young man I met for the first time. Now, please give me a little bit of the last fig leaf. Take your reward and leave quickly."
Ali took out a car key from his pocket and placed it on the table. "There is a car outside. It has been filled with gas. You can use it as you wish. Just drop it off at the Forestry Association branch in Madura."
"Thank you."
Huai Shi picked up the car key and thanked him sincerely.
"This is your reward," Ali said.
"No, I mean your honesty," Huai Shi said seriously. "You can lie or not answer."
"Just consider yourself lucky."
Ali waved his hand impatiently and motioned him to leave quickly. Tirar shrugged and nodded to Huai Shi to say goodbye. He pointed to the depressed Ali next to him. He had to stay here to comfort his old friend.
Before Huai Shi left, he opened his mouth and wanted to say something. But after thinking about it, he closed his mouth obediently.
What right and experience did he have to shamelessly tell others how to face life?
After nodding and thanking him, he pushed the door and left.
When he got in the car, he received a message from Tirar. It was a phone number. "If you go to Madura, you can visit this guy. He is a Latin teacher in a middle school. He always thinks about something. We call him a philosopher in private. Maybe he will enlighten you."
"I will." ‘
After Huai Shi finished replying, he looked up at the huge off-road vehicle in front of him and raised his eyebrows.
He rubbed his hands in anticipation.
There is a free car to drive. That's great …
Completely ignoring the premise that he did not have a driver's license and driving experience, Huai Shi stepped on the accelerator and left.
He was on his way!
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